New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-31
MIDDLEMASS EXPERIMENT.

=. rossib,e n suggestive CHAPTER In the career Of
the Rev. Matthew Middlemas, some time pastor
" the Jones Brown Memorial Church at South
Enderby Graduating in the GLASS OF 1875 In
one Of our Eastern colleges, Middlemas lmmedi-
itely entered theological seminary, and the 1aii
Of 1880 found him licensed minister. Soon al
terward the South Enderby Church, whose pull
pit was then vacant, invited him to preach, and
q call which he accepted was the result 1t was
not surprising that he received this CALL although
the church was one Of the strongest In that
nourishing CITY, For Middlemas was young
fellow of the first order. His was large unset
fish SOUL vigorous mind, body as sound as q
coin fresh from the mint After preaching two
years ut South Enderby he took an inventory. Lie
found that his congregation had increased IN
round numbers from $50 to 500, while the MEM
bership as appeared from the church records,
had advanced from $40 to 800. His people
were greatly pleased. They saw In these figures
o confirmation Of their wisdom in calling Middle
mas rather than any other of the many candidates
to whom they had listened They were con-
WINGED that it was clear of the survival
q the fttest Accordingly to attest their graft
hcation they rendered him a reception In the
lecture-room Of the church and raised his salary.
He absolutely declined both the reception and the
i've hundred dollar advance. Naturally the
church was greatly surprised. But the truth
A that Middlemas was by no means as well
pleased with the outcome of his labors in South
Enderby as they were. When one Of his deacons
for whom he had come to have a great liking
Rallied him on his refusal either to be received
br to have his income pleasantly meddled with,
10 frankly confessed that he was discouraged.
Discouraged" exclaimed tho astonished dea-
son; "what nonsense. Why, dominic, you must
have the dyspepsia! Figures don't lie.
sfof cfi0c
anniversary sermon prove conclusively that
our church is greatly prospecting under
your minist,a,ions II you'd been doing your
best as I'm sure you have, and had nothing to
show for 1t, even then 'twould be your duty TO
be resigned. But since you've been rewarded
with the tangible fruits Of success. to complain
wen, you've either been eating too much lobster
Aate at night or you ought to be ashamed OF
yourself"
Nliddlemas smiled, stared hard into vacancy
moment with eyes that were not at all suggestive
Of late lobster or shame. and then replied Yes,
admit, Baxter, that those anniversary figures
were gratifying, as such figures GO. But the
trouble with them is that they fail to tell the
W,4cis truth. They prove too much. How great
impression for good has our church under
h,y leadership maze THO life of this town
lbass the crucial test isn't it? What shall II
profit us as Q religious organization II we increase
In numbers il there is no corresponding increase
IN efficient practical service for the good cause?
You may reply that the includes the other.
I earnestly wish it did, but the facts that con-
front me are stubborn things"
what facts, dominica"
SWELL there are more liquor saloons in South
Enderby than when came here. So there are
more gambling hells and worse resorts know
what am talking about, for I've been inter-
viewing the Chief Of olice. learn from equally
good authority that the bribery of voters at our
local elections was never as general nor as
shamelessly open as it has been Of late.
paper was read few evenings since before the
Municipal Reform Club showing the disgraceful
condition of the houses and streets Of South
,Enderby's tenement district Many grog shops
Are open on Sunday, although the law says all
of them shall be shut. Still other grog shops
are in full blast that have no license. went
into one of our leading shops the other day to
order some new shirts, and had the conviction
forced upon me, from the price asked for what
the clerk called our leading make Of shirts,
The Tip-Top,' that one of the departments of
the great house was devoted to the notorious
Business of starving sewing women You must
admit, Brother Baxter, that these facts more than
efsst those anniversary statistics. The balance
ss not in my favor. The devil is rather more
Cor one am covered with shame and confusion
Of face as think of it. Not any reception nor
Increase of salary for me, if you please"
Thoro was an awkward pause. Then Baxter
with view to reassuring his pastor ventured
= 20 quote, "When we have done all we are
unproitabls servants"
~Yes,n assented Middlemas, with quizzical
axprcssion In his eyes, "but the fact that one
has proved to be Improbable servant Is not
10 be regarded as prima facie evidence that he
has done all I'm very far from claiming in
the retrospect that Pvc done anything worth
mentioning"
Dominic remarked Baxter affectionstely lay
Ing his hand on his pastors shoulder don't
t1low yourself to take morbid views OF your duty
There are twent,-one churches in South Enderby'
You would actually seem to assume that the
pastors of ell OF them except our own have
been doing valiant service; that the failure OF
The millennium to reach our city before this is
nue SOLELY to the Rev. Matthew Middlemas.
ean that egotism or humility gone mad don't
know which. It's my opinion that every one
81 the twenty-one has been faithful-at all
events know you have AS TO the painful 1acts
~ which you've spoken-wen, you must DC
patient. You mustn't expect too much to happen
Of q sudden. Rome wasn't built In day;
don't expect the temple OF moral progress TO DC.
4 suspect that labor as zealously as we may
AereTl be good deal Of assorted wickedness
"A this world when we leave tt for better one.
NE divine command Is, indeed, that we should
3 10 whatsoever our hands find to do with our
hight. But our responsibility ends with obedi-
bnoe to that mandate Consequences are TO be
4sfs to the Almighty" 80,
20 undoubtedly, undoubtedly" asscpted Md
< nlemas with o shade OF impatence in his voice.
FBut BAXTER, I've discovered tendency In
Dyseh-I trust none Of my brother ministers
Aarait--to be 80 resigned to leaving consequences
y the Almighty as not to take as much pains
= might to shape the consequences thae III